Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-17
HATEFUL HANNAH.

0-S-0-
HATEFUL HANNAH.
How She was Taught to Be Thankful
for the Good Things She Had.
"Now Lille Schubert! you just stop
throwing that ball in the house; you'll
break every thing we've got I should
think you might come and help me
with these dishes. Here I've been
working all day long, and you haven't
done any thing but play. When was
nine years old l used to wash the dishes
all the time-all alone, too"
Hannah's voice was loud and shrill,
dark frown settled on the usually
smiling face, and the angry clatter Of
the dishes drowned the saucy reply of
the little black-eyed ball player. She
wouldn't stop for Han; ''the cross old
thingr' and the ball went bounding
against the wall again and again, until
at last it just grazed the looking glass:
Then she dropped it and began to tor
ment the cat. But some times this
little girls good angel would appear in
the shape of her blue-eyed twin brother,
and as Han stopped the rattle of the
dishes for moment, while she turned
to get a dipper of hot water-behold!
there he was, towel in hand. saying
timidly: 'Ill dry yer dishes for yer,
Han"
'Little Peacemaker" was Wi1lie's
name in the family circle, and Hannah
usually had some CHEEKY answer for
her favorite brother, but tonight the
thunder-clouds on her brow were so
thick that not even a ray of smile
could pierce them; and she made the
sweet little mouth culver when she
called out sharply: '.Look out there,
WSzliet you'll drop that plate, 1 b'lieve
your re the most careless boy I ever
saw"
Hateful and cross, wasn't she? But
we must remember that she had been
standing all day at her work in the
mill; and, although the Oldest in the
family, she was only fourteen, very
little woman, you see. Indeed, if it
were not a profound secret, could tell
of some older ones who are sometimes
cross when they are NO more tired than
she. She was generally so patient,
too. 1t was not an easy thing for her
to leave the pleasant school-room and
her class, in which she had ranked
number one for several months, to ex-
change it all for the roar and confusion
of the weave-room. 80, I've been to
school good while, she would say.
when her friends spoke of it, ''and it's
time was taking care of myself when
there are so many little ones.'' And
then she would smile so bravely, and
hasten away to help mamma with the
house-work.
| But wonder if there are not times
every thing becomes hateful and irk-
some, when the burdens grow unbear-
able, OR the pleasures, or what had
seemed pleasures, look disgustingly
small Such time had come to Ham
nah, of all days in the year, on the
night before Thanksgiving. It began
with the note from Minnie Morris.
Minnie wanted her to spend Thanks
giving evening at her house with one
or two of the girls adding that her
cousin from the city would be there.
Of course Hannah longed to go, for
Minnie was her best friend, and more
than that Minnie's home was so lovely,
and so quiet, too, for she had no
brothers and sisters, and she could
have every thing she wanted to make
her happy, at least, so Han thought
But there was Cousin Laura, how often
Minnie had spoken of her. of her rieA
clothes and her beautiful home. Prob
ably she was proud and would look
down on poor girls. And oh! those
sleeves in Hans garnet dress; she had
noticed them only the Sunday before,
and had been glad it was cool enough
to wear her coat to church, so that tire
holes could be covered. She hadn't
time to mend them, and if she had,
what would they think of patched
sleevesP The dress was poor enough
anyway. The little women was just a
trife proud herself, you see.
This was the beginning of her dis
content, and when she reached home
and found mamma in bed with head
ache, and supper to be made ready;
and when, after supper she found the
sink full of the dinner dishes, do you
wonder that her poor feet ached,. or
that she was cross? go yes,'' she
thought, as she began to wash. the
dishes, 1.-THE other girls can go to part
les, and have nice things to wear. and
can't have any thing. They can go
to school, too, just as much as they
choose. heard Katie Green say she
was going ever SO much longer, and
she amt a very good scholar, either
With such thoughts as these in her
mind the dishes were at last finished
and she sat down moment to take
breath. Suddenly she heard the voice
of fve-years-old Kittens. lyon must
be good' she was saying to her dolly
"'cause to-morrer's thanksgiving Day
and we're going to have a hen for din
her" The little ro1y poly was al
ways making them laugh, and at an,
other time Hannah would have beer
greatly amused; but now she began I.
think Thanksgiving. indeed! VIVA
had she to be thankful forp Hart
work every day and the children quar-
reling every evening; not much els
had she; and the discomfort at las
overfowed in few bitter tears, as an
took the Baby Bunting and began 4
rock her to sleep. She had Just lai,
J the little one In the cradle when sud
denly the kitchen door burst open an,
Tommie Green came rushing in gasp
ing sJohnnie-Johnnie' fell into th